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How to Convert 1965-1970 Mustangs to an EPAS

Electric Power Steering Conversion - Avoid fluid leaks while gaining the power assist you need

Advancements in technology allow us to do nearly unlimited things in our daily lives compared to even just a few years ago. From computers you wear as eye glasses to self-driving cars, we should be thankful that these technologies allow us to live fuller lives and provide us with more time and ability to enjoy family, hobbies, and more. It wasn’t that long ago that the term "time shift television viewing" would have people staring at you funny. Now, thanks to devices like TIVO, you can spend that time in the garage on your Mustang project, take your wife to dinner, or watch the kid’s ball game and still catch your favorite show later when it is convenient for you to watch. Yes, technology can make our lives easier.

When it comes to vintage Mustangs, there has certainly been a lot of technology growth since the first generation Mustangs passed from used car status into collector status. From something as simple as a PerTronix Ignitor points replacement ignition kit to more advanced technology like self-learning fuel injection, a lot of vintage Mustangs are seeing more time on the road these days thanks to such advancements. Other areas we’ve seen technology improve our vintage driving experiences include braking (hydraulic assist conversions, aka hydroboost), interior/exterior illumination (LED lighting), and comfort and convenience (electronic A/C, power windows, remote door locks, etc.). Now modern OEM technology has "trickled down" to our vintage Mustangs in the form of electric power assisted steering, or EPAS.

EPAS technology will be familiar to owners of ’11 or newer Mustangs. EPAS is used by OEMs to reduce packaging, eliminate leaks/hoses/reservoirs, and most of all retain that nice power-assisted steering feel without using belt-driven power from the engine, which ultimately increases fuel economy. EPAS is one reason why the ’11 and up V-6 Mustang can achieve 31 mpg highway, besting a lot of so-called fuel efficient cars.

Upgrading a vintage Mustang with an EPAS system is a viable solution for all of the same reasons. Instead of spending your hard-earned cash on stock power steering components that can create packaging issues, hose routing nightmares, and fluid leaks, an EPAS conversion can give you the same assist feel without the headaches.

US Auto Performance’s EPAS system is somewhat universal in nature, but due to the popularity of the vintage Mustang, and the fact one of their demo cars is a Mustang, the company offers the right hardware to fit one of its EPAS systems to ’65-’70 Mustangs, including firewall mounting plates, steering column bushings, intermediate shafts, and more. Intrigued by the system and knowing how well OEM setups work, we just had to snag a system and install it to see if it is really worth the installation effort. While we won’t spoil the ending, we can say with affirmation that the US Auto Performance EPAS system is something seriously worth considering if your vintage Mustang is sans power steering and you want or need the assist function to better enjoy your Mustang on today’s roads.

Electric vs. Hydraulic Steering Conversion Costs

Yes, the US Auto Performance EPAS system can feel like a big hit to the budget at $1,350, but if your car has manual steering like our ’67, we wondered what it would be like to compare the cost of converting to factory hydraulic versus the electric. We’re talking about adding a power steering center link with control valve, a hydraulic ram assembly, a power steering pump with mounting bracket, engine pulleys, hoses, and more. CJ Pony Parts’ website makes this comparison easy, as they offer complete hydraulic conversion kits and also now stock the US Auto Performance EPAS systems. Check out these current prices and decide for yourself: do you want to deal with under hood packaging and leaks or just have reliable power assisted steering (and save a few bucks too).